Ethiopia
READ MOREEthiopia is in East Africa, situated north of Kenya. It is one of the only countries in Africa that was never colonized, hence has a much longer and rich history than its neighboring countries. They have the oldest coffee tradition in the world and believed to be where coffee originated.
Read more about Ethiopia as a tourist destination.
Other
Information
CURRENCY
Ethiopian Birr
(1 USD = 29.26 Birr August 2019)
LANGUAGE AND POPULATION
Ethiopia has stunning landscapes, from scenic
higlights of Simien Mountains to active lava lakes in
Danakil.
Tourist Spots
Century-old historic sites from churches to castles
Surviving Tribes
Although the exact number is unknown, there are
around 80 tribes or ethnic groups living in Ethiopia…
UNESCO Sites
Aksum (1980)
Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region (1979)
Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town (2006)
Konso Cultural Landscape (2011)
Lower Valley of the Awash (1980)
Lower Valley of the Omo (1980)
Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (1978)
Tiya (1980)
Simien National Park (1978)
Highlights
01 ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES IN LALIBELA
02 CASTLES IN GONDAR
03 HISTORICAL AXUM
Top 5 Destinations
01 DANAKIL DEPRESSION
02 LALIBELA
03 OMO VALLEY
04 SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
05 BLUE NILE
Unique Experience
• Coffee Ceremony
• Ethiopian Cuisine
Type of Travel
• A tour operator is strongly recommended
• The sites are clustered by region and for each region, it takes 5-10hrs through okay and bumpy roads
• DIY is doable but difficult
Least Favorite
• Poor to non-existent public toilets
• Poor to non-existent Wifi
• In the Southern Tribes, you feel harassed by the tribe’s for having to pay for every photo
• Public transpo is practically non-existent (outside the metro)
• Limited accommodation. Budget to standard rooms are “meh”
• Luxury ones are great but standard is similar to a 3-star property in mainstream destinations like Tanzania or Kenya
Planning Your Trip
Planning Your Trip
BUDGET
Around 2000 USD per person all-inclusive tour, lodge, meals for standard rooms
ITINERARY SUGGESTION
Allot at least 10 full days to travel. This will give you enough time to explore a region (i.e. North only)
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
We recommend September which is just before the peak season, which begins in October
We find that being in Ethiopia is like being in the past and the present at the same time
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